Art of decorating walls



NGV. 27 1923 1,435,922

B. SOGLOW ART OF DECORATING WALLS Filed Feb. 27. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BERTHOLD 500L0w L WSBZZ B. SOGLOW ART OF DECORATING WALLS Filed Feb. 27. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PLAIN WALL PLAIN SAND-PAPER ENTIRE JURFACE PA IN TED PA IN TED 7'0 RE PRfSEIVT "Po/N mve improved Patented Nov. 27, 1923.

BERTKOLD SOGLOVV, 0F NEW YC'BK, N. Y.

ART or nnconarme WALLS.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l. Bnnrnono Soenow, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Artof Decoratin \Valls, of which the following is a speci cation.

My invent-ion relates to the art'of decorating walls, especially interior 'walls of buildings.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved surface decoration, and method of producing or applying it, which permits a practically unlimited number of decorative wall or ceiling patterns to be' conveniently and economically produced.

A more particular object is to provide an surface decoration simulating stonework, or tiling. 7

Generally described, my method consists in cutting sheets of surfacing material into predetermined shapes and sizes or in utilizing sheets of suitable material which are obtainable in desirable shapes and sizes, and cementing these sheets or pieces of surfacing material to a suitably prepared wall surface, such as an ordinary plastered wall, in accordance with a suitable pattern, and usually with-spaces between the pieces of ap lied material.

u some cases, the wall surface may be painted or otherwise treated prior to application of the surfacing material, to afforda satisfactory base for adhesively securing the surfacingsheets. After application of the surfacing material, in some cases the entire surface, including the applied sheets and the exposed wall surface between them, whether previously painted or unpainted, is painted or otherwise colored to properly tint the surfacing material.

The wall surface between the edges of the applied sheets may then be colored in different ways, and the applied sheets may also in some cases be colored or shaded to produce desired effects.

As previously indicated, my invention is especially available for producing a simulation of a stone, brick ortile wall, such as is often appropriate for an interior wall finish in various structures, including residances, and for thispurpose in one embodiment of the invention, the wall surface is desirably ruled or marked to sufficiently 7 indicate the pattern; sheets of sandpaper of commercially available sizes are provided,

or such sheets are cut to one or more shapes and sizes; these sandpaper sheets are then cemented to the wall surface in accordance with the pattern with the sanded surface outward, usually leaving spaces between edge of the applied pieces. The exposed portions of the original wall surface left in the described spaces may be of a color properly contrasting with the applied pieces, or otherwise these spaces may be colored, for instance to simulate mortar of a suitably contrasting color, and in some cases the outer surfaces of the applied'pieces are colored or shaded in different ways.

In some cases after the sandpaper sheets are secured in position the entire surface of the wall, including the applied sheets, is colored, usually by painting, for the purpose of producing the desired surface that of the applied material, and also to assist in binding in place the grains of sand with" which the sandpaper is surfaced. The intermcdiate wall spaces are then colored in suitable contrast to the main surface color, to represent mortar work.

The result is a wall surface very closely simulating stone or ornamental brick, laid in the usual way, with indentations represented by the thickness of the applied ma-- terial and properly colored to represent pointed-up mortar and in. some cases with the surfaces of the applied pieces colored or shaded to produce a relief efiect.

The characteristics and advantages of the inventionare further suliiciently explained in connection with a detail description of the accompanying drawing, which shows one exemplifying embodiment of the invention. After considering this it. will be evident that many variations may be made within the principles of the invention, and I contemplate the employment of any methods and structures which are properly within the scope of the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ordinary plastered wall, the surface of which embodies my invention in one form. a

Figure 2 is a detail swtion of the wail with one of the decorative sheets or pieces applied to it.

Figure 3 is a diagrams trating method steps accord of the process.

Figure l-shows an ordinary plaster '1 View illuca r to one form wall.

will

structure including uprights or studding 1, lathing 2 and plaster 3, which generally is in-two layers, as usual, with a smooth surface finish, although it is not attempted to show the plaster structure in detail. The wall surface may have any ordinary finish providing a proper surface for further treatment in accordance with my invention.

Assuming the. surface 4 to be an ordinary smooth plaster surface, it may then be sized, painted or otherwise treated to form a better base to receive the glue or other adhesive used to secure the applied surfacing materials. The wall is then marked or ruled to form a guide for the finishing treatment, suitable ruling being indicated in the present instance by parallel lines 5.

Suitable surfacing pieces 6 are then secured adhesively to the wall surface in accordance with the pattern. These surfacing pieces may be in a specific instance, sheets of ordinary sand-paper cut to proper sizes and in many cases the pattern may be so devised that the sandpaper sheets may be of ordinary commercial sizes and therefore may be used without cutting. Pieces 6 in the present instance therefore represent sandpaper sheets of ordinary commercial size.

The grade of sandpaper is of course selected with a view to simulating the desired wall finish which the design is intended to represent. Forinstance, a very fine grade of sandpaper will represent a fine texture sand stone or even by suitable coloring will resemble the appearance of lime or other stone. A coarse grade of sandpaper very closely resembles the surface texture of the ordinary tapestry brick, and its natural color is practically the same as one customary color of such brick so that a desirable tapestry brick wall finish is produced by applying such sand paper sheets with their sanded surfaces outward, and spaced in accordance with proper course arrangements of such brick work.

In some cases after application of the surfacing pieces the entire wall surface may be colored, for instance by Jainting, to produce the desired surface co .oring of the applied sheets, and to secure the granular surface material of these sheets.

Pieces 6 are usually applied so that spaces 7 of variable width, but usually quite narrow, are left between them. These spaces disclose the original wall surface, or the wall surface with the first coat of color applied before the pieces 6 are applied, or the Wall surface is colored by the application of paint after the application of pieces 6. In any of these cases, when it is necessary or desirable these wall spaces 7 are colored in suitable contrastwith the surface color of the a plied pieces 6. For instance, when the sur ace coloring of pieces 6 is a light tan, grey, or almost any color except white, the wall surface spaces 7 may be painted white with a narrow brush and in some cases the application of color in the spaces may be purposely done with slight irregularity, so that the appearance of an ordinary brick and mortar, and properly pointed, wall is produced. The thickness of the applied ieces 6 is sufficient so that shadows are cast by the edges of the ieces, and this accentuates the desired e ect and increases the resemblance to masonry construction.

Moreover, the irregularities of the sand grains lying along the edges of the pieces 6 cause the shadows thrown in spaces 7 to be correspondingly irregular, this agreeing with the character of the shadow thrown by edges of tapestry brick or other decorative brick laid and pointed up in the usual way. The applied pieces may be of different shapes and dimensions. ferent rows or courses of relatively narrow pieces 8 may be applied in the manner indicated by the pattern in the present instance. Suitable border patterns may be formed consisting of narrow continuous stripes 9, and these represent more particularly a wall formation of the sort some-,

times produced by grooving plaster.

Other border designs may be produced by suitably cut pieces 10, applied so as to produce a convoluted border of a well-known pattern, and such borders may of course be varied indefinitely.

The shadow effect referred to above may be accentuated by coloring portions of the wall surface exposedbetween parts of the applied material, for instance as at 11 in the border design lO;.and this coloring may be darker than the coloring of the wall surface, or may bein a different shade or color to produce various shadow or decorative effects. The surfaces of different ones of the applied sheets or pieces, such as 6, 8,'etc., may be colored in different tints or shades, and in some cases different. portions of the surface of a single piece may be shaded or colored to produce a relief effector an appearance of surface convexity, as sufficiently indicated at 12; and these effects may be varied almost indefinitely by one familiar with methods of interior decoration.

While sandpaper is a suitable material for a great number of attractive finishes, the invention is not confined to the use of sandpaper, but other sheet material having a suitable surface appearance or capable of being properly treated or colored for the purposes in view may be employed.

I claim:

1. A decorative wall structure, comprising a base having an approximately smooth surface, and pieces of rough-finished sheet surfacing material adhesively secured to the wall surface and having certain of their For instance, dif-- of applied edges spaced apart to expose portions of the wall surface, producing a simulation of a masonry structure. i

2. A decorative wall structure, compris= 'ing a wall having an approximately smooth surface, and pieces of sheet surfacing material adhesively secured to the wall surface and having certain of their edges spaced apart to expose portions of the wall surface, said exposed wall surface portions being colored in contrast to the applied material, producing a simulation of a masonry structure.

3. A decorative wall structure comprising a wall having an approximately smooth surface, and a plurality of pieces of sheet material adhesively secured to the wall surface and spaced apart in simulation of brick or masonry construction, exposing portions of the wall surface in said spaces, said pieces material having their outer 'surfaces rough surfaced in resemblance to known masonry wall structures.

4. A decorative wall structure comprising a wall having an approximately smooth surface, and a plurality of pieces of sheet ma terial adhesively secured to the wall surface and spaced apart in simulation of brick or masonry construction, exposing portions of the wall surface in said spaces, portions of the exposed strips of wall surface being colored to simulate shadow effects.

5. A decorative wall structure comprising a wall having an approximately smooth surface, and a plurality of pieces of sheet material adhesively secured to the wall surface and spaced apart in simulation of brick or masonry construction, exposing portions of the wall surface in said spaces, the outer surfaces. of certain of the applied pieces being colored to simulate relief effects.

6. A decorative wall structure comprising a wall-having an approximately smooth surface, and a plurality of pieces of sheet material adhesively secured to the-wall surface and spaced apart in simulation of brick or masonry construction, exposin outer portions of the wall suface in sai spaces, the exposed surfaces of theapplied pieces being pa inted,and the exposed strips of wall surface being painted in contrast to' the surface color of said applied pieces.

7 A decorative wall structure oomprisin a wall surface and a plurality of pieces 0 sandpaper adhesively secured thereto with the sanded surfaces outward and spaced apart in representation of a masonry structure.

in representation of pointed mortar work. pattern,

9. A decorative wall structure compris- 5 ing a wall surface and a plurality of pieces of sandpaper adhesively. secured thereto .with the sanded surfaces outward and spaced apart, the outersurfa'cesfofsaid sandpaper pieces being painted andthe strips of wall surface exposed between said applied pieces being colored ina contrasting color,

1n representation of pointed mortar work'q 10. A deeorativewall structure comprising a wall surface and a plurality of pieces of sandpaper adhesively secured thereto with, the sanded" surfaces outward and spaced apart, the granular irregularities of the sand coating at the edges of the applied pieces together with the thickness 0 said pieces producing a shadow effect closely simulating that of masonry or brick structures. a

11. A wall structure or. finish comprising a flat base having a substantially smooth surface, and'a plurality of pieces of sheet material adhesively secured thereto,--with their edges spaced apart in similarity to masonry constructlon, the outer surfaces of the app-lied pieces being rough-finished in simulation of masonry, the base surfaces between the applied pieces being colored to represent masonry pointing.

12. A wall structure or finish comprisin g a flat base having a substantially smooth surface, and a plurality of pieces of sheet material adhesively secured thereto, with their edges spaced apart in similarity to masonry construction, the outer surfaces of the applied pieces being rough-finished in simulationcf masonry, the base surfaces between the applied pieces being colored to represent mason pointing and the oumr surfaces of the app led pieces being colored in similarity to masonry surfaces in contrast with said base surfacw. v

13. A method of producing decorated wall surfaces in simulation of masonry construc-' tion, comprising adhesively securing to a substantially smooth base surface, a plurality of pieces of sheet surfacing material with their adjacent edges spaced apart to expose portions of the base surfaces, and coloring said exposed base surfaces in representation of pointed masonry work.-

' 14. A method of decorating walls, com prising adhesively securing to a wall surface a plurality of separate pieces of sheet material in spaced relation, and coloring the exposed surfaces of the applied pieces and the intermediate wall surface in contrast with each other and in simulation of masonry or brick work.

15. A method of decorating walls, comprising making pattern marks on a wall surface, adhesively securing to the wall surface a plurality of separate pieces of sheet surfacing material in accordance with the and coloring the exposed surfaces of the applied pieees and the intermediate wail. surfaces 11': eontrast with each other and in simuhti'on of masonry or brick wozk.

16. A .method of decorating Walls, com- 55 prising marking a Wall surface t0 indieete a, pattern, aidhesively securing to the surface a plurality of separate plecesof sheet material in accordance with a, Vpetem coloreweee BERTHOLD SOGLOW. 

